Aba 3-Day Citywalk Guide: Jiuzhaigou & Huanglong's Fairy Tale World

Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture — home of Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, places every Chinese person must visit in their lifetime. Jiuzhaigou: "After Jiuzhai, no other water compares" — 108 haizi (alpine lakes) scattered like sapphires, Five-Flower Lake's kaleidoscopic colors are dreamlike beyond imagination. Huanglong's travertine pools are hailed as "Earthly Immortal Ponds," 3,500+ terraced pools glowing golden in layers. Mount Siguniang "Queen of Sichuan Mountains" is snow-capped year-round, with three valleys each offering spectacular scenery. Songpan Ancient Town is a thousand-year Tea Horse Road hub where Tibetan, Qiang, Hui, and Han peoples coexist. Three days (ideally extended to 5), step into this earthly wonderland.

🌤️ Best Time to Visit

Autumn (Sep-Nov): Jiuzhaigou's peak! Colorful forests + blue water + snow peaks, 5-18°C — Strongly recommended!
Summer (Jun-Aug): Waterfall high-water season + mountain escape, 12-25°C
Spring (Mar-May): Snow melting + wildflowers, 2-15°C
Winter (Dec-Feb): Ice waterfalls + blue ice, few tourists, lower prices, -10 to 5°C

🚄 Getting There

Arrival

Air: Jiuzhai-Huanglong Airport (~1.5h to Jiuzhaigou), direct flights from Chengdu/Chongqing/Xi'an
Bus: Chengdu Chadianzi Station → Jiuzhaigou ~8h (¥150)
Driving: Chengdu→Jiuzhaigou ~7-8h, spectacular scenery along the way

Local Transport

Tip: Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong are ~2.5h apart. Songpan is between them. Consider hiring a car or joining a tour

🏨 Where to Stay

Jiuzhaigou Gate Area: ¥200-500/night, book early in peak season
Songpan Ancient Town: ¥100-250/night
Huanglong Area: Limited options, ¥150-350/night

🍜 Must-Eat Food

Yak Meat (¥30-50/portion) — Yak jerky + yak hotpot, high-protein low-fat, great chew. Essential plateau protein
Butter Tea (¥5-10/bowl) — Traditional Tibetan drink, butter + brick tea + salt, high-altitude energy boost. Savory, not sweet
Tsampa (¥5-10) — Roasted barley flour mixed with butter tea into dough balls, Tibetan staple food
Highland Barley Wine (¥10-20/pot) — Traditional Tibetan liquor, low alcohol, sweet and warming
Potato Ciba (¥5-8) — Mashed potato cakes, dip in honey or chili — surprisingly versatile
Jiuzhaigou Grilled Lamb Ribs (¥30-50/portion) — Tibetan-style grilled lamb, crispy outside tender inside
Songpan Yak Meat Noodles (¥10-15) — Songpan Ancient Town specialty, yak meat noodles in rich broth

Food Areas

Jiuzhaigou Gate: Yak hotpot restaurants + Tibetan restaurants
Songpan Ancient Town: Yak noodles + multicultural street food
Inside scenic areas: Limited and overpriced, bring snacks

📅 3-Day Itinerary

🚶 Day 1: Jiuzhaigou (Full Day)

7:30-17:30 | Jiuzhaigou (Peak season ticket ¥169 + shuttle ¥90) "After Jiuzhai, no other water compares" — 108 alpine lakes in a valley:

Morning (Rize Valley):

Five-Flower Lake: Jiuzhaigou's crown jewel! Lake bottom covered with fallen trees, water layered in blues, greens, and golds — colors beyond imagination, like nature's palette
Pearl Shoal Waterfall: Water cascading over rocks like scattering pearls, the famous waterfall from the opening of "Journey to the West" TV series
Mirror Lake: Perfectly still as a mirror, reflecting colorful forests in the water

Afternoon (Zechawa Valley + Shuzheng Valley):

Long Lake: Jiuzhaigou's largest and deepest lake, deep blue and serene, surrounded by snow peaks
Five-Color Pool: Smallest but most intensely colored lake, blue beyond belief — like a sapphire dropped by heaven
Norilang Waterfall: China's widest highland waterfall, thundering and magnificent

💡 Shuttle buses connect all spots. 10-15km walking total. Comfortable sneakers essential. Allow 7-8 hours.

🚶 Day 2: Huanglong (Half Day) + Songpan Ancient Town

8:00-13:00 | Huanglong (Ticket ¥170 + cable car ¥80 up) "Earthly Immortal Ponds" — 3,500+ travertine terraced pools:

Five-Color Pool: Highest pool group, colors in blue, green, yellow, white — surreal
Huanglong Temple: Ming Dynasty temple amid the pools
Welcome Pools + Flying Waterfall: Pools and waterfalls along the descending path

💡 Cable car UP, walk DOWN saves energy. Elevation 3,500m+, watch for altitude sickness. The colorful pools are most vivid in sunlight.

14:30-17:30 | Songpan Ancient Town (Town free) Tea Horse Road hub for a thousand years, Tibetan-Qiang-Hui-Han multi-ethnic coexistence:

Ancient City Walls and Gates: Well-preserved Ming Dynasty fortifications
Songtsen Gampo & Princess Wencheng Statue: Historical landmark
Multicultural Streets: Tibetan prayer flags + Hui halal restaurants + Han tea houses
Yak meat jerky and ethnic handicrafts for sale

🚶 Day 3: Mount Siguniang Shuangqiao Valley or Departure

Option A: Shuangqiao Valley (Ticket ¥80 + shuttle ¥70) "Queen of Sichuan Mountains" — the easiest valley to visit:

Ginseng Meadow: Open alpine meadow with snow peak backdrop
Siguniang Viewing Platform: See all four snow peaks
Redwood Forest: Ancient red-bark trees + alpine lake
Yueliang Bay: Crescent-shaped bend in the river

💡 Shuangqiao Valley entirely by shuttle bus, suitable for most people. Elevation 3,200-3,800m.

Option B: Direct Departure If time is tight, fly home from Jiuzhai-Huanglong Airport.

💰 Budget Reference (3 days/person)

Item	Budget	Comfort
Accommodation	¥300-600	¥600-1,500
Food	¥200-350	¥400-700
Tickets	¥420-520	¥420-520
Transport	¥200-500	¥500-1,000
Total	¥1,120-1,970	¥1,920-3,720

💡 Jiuzhaigou + Huanglong tickets are expensive. Peak season (Apr-Nov) costs more.

💡 Practical Tips

Altitude Sickness: Jiuzhaigou 2,000-3,100m, Huanglong 3,500m+. Take rhodiola 2 days before. Walk slowly at Huanglong
Ticket Reservations: Jiuzhaigou strictly limits daily visitors. Book online well in advance, especially peak season
Clothing: 10°C+ temperature swings between morning/evening and midday. Bring windbreaker + fleece
Photography: Five-Flower Lake best light 9-10am, Five-Color Pool better in afternoon
Waterproof: Jiuzhaigou has many waterfalls and mist, protect your camera
Inside Food: Expensive and limited inside scenic areas. Bring snacks and water

Sources: Ctrip, Mafengwo, Dianping